Scott Walker on Technology

Opposed high-speed rail line: $810M federal but $110M state

Not only had I refused to submit a stimulus wish list, I had also campaigned for governor on a promise to cancel a stimulus-funded program to build an expensive high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee. While the Obama administration was
promising $810 million in federal funds for the project, I knew that the state would be on the hook for shortfalls, as well as the annual operating subsidies once the line was complete.
We estimated that the project was going to cost Wisconsin taxpayers $110 million. We were broke and just could not afford it.

After my election, Governor Doyle canceled the project. "I could play brinksmanship with this issue and I could just plow
forward and put people out at job sites," Doyle said. "I don't think that's in anybody's best interest."

It was a major victory. We had saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $100 million before even talking office.

Spend $810M on roads instead of high-speed rail

Q [to Barrett]: Your opponents question whether there will be much ridership on a controversial high speed rail link between Milwaukee and Madison.

BARRETT: We had this type of debate when we started the Hiawatha several years ago, and what we've seen
is an increase in ridership between Chicago and Milwaukee. I think the same thing will occur with the ridership between Milwaukee and Madison.

Q [to Walker]: You've pledged to "stop this train." How?

WALKER: The bottom line is the train is something
we don't want and can't afford, $810 million in a so-called high speed train line between Milwaukee and Madison. The system will provide, by their own numbers, a mere 55 permanent jobs. To me, spending more than $14.5 million per job is not a good use
of the taxpayer's money. We can stop it by stopping the contracts. My next step would be to go to our congressional delegation to change those funds, so we can spend them to fix our crumbling roads and bridges right here in Wisconsin.

Pulled plug on light rail; fix roads and bridges instead

Since learning about the state's agreement with the federal government we have been exploring all legal options to stop the train from moving forward, and we believe this is a step in the right direction.
We are continuing to work with members of congress on redirecting this money to fixing our crumbling roads and bridges.